Gran Canaria

Bird species from every continent, a 20-hectare botanical garden, exotic flora and spectacular shows await you at this Gran Canaria icon. To save money, you can buy a combined park ticket, which also gives you access to Aqualand Maspalomas.

Also known as the Jardín Canario, this botanic garden is a great place for a stroll. Start from the bottom and work your way up or the other way around. Whichever way you choose to explore, you'll easily spend a couple of hours here. You'll find a rich collection of plants endemic to the Canary Islands and Macaronesia, a section dedicated to cacti and succulents, as well as a greenhouse the “Hidden Garden” (El Jardín Escondido).

Get up close and personal with nature at the paradise that is Guayadeque ravine. Here, you will find almost 2,000 different plant species and many historical remains of cave houses, including a hermitage. Some of these caves now host restaurants. Start your exploration at the visitors centre.

A visit to the iconic Maspalomas lighthouse, followed by a leisurely stroll along the beach and through the charming local shops, makes for a delightful evening. Try to catch the sunset and enjoy the view with a leisurely drink or bite to eat.

Los Tilos de Moya Nature Reserve shelters one of the island's last laurel forests, where great Canarii warriors like Doramas used to roam. Home to over 50 plant species of special scientific interest and countless invertebrates, this reserve is a sanctuary for endemic and endangered species, sustaining the majority of their populations.

If it's international cuisine you're looking for, you're well-catered for by cosmopolitan Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Visit Teror's market to pick up the municipality's traditional chorizo, a sausage that's as sweet as it is savoury. Further inland, Tejeda makes good use of its almond trees in desserts. Traditional gastronomy is all around.

Scream if you want to go faster on the slides at Aqualand Water Park or check out all the pretty birds at Palmitos Park. Visit Sioux City Park if you're a fan of cowboys and the Wild West. Alternatively, head to Puerto Rico for the Angry Birds Activity Park with zip-lines and a laser maze.

Gran Canaria's 236 km of Atlantic coastline makes the island a fantastic water-sports venue. Learn how to SUP on Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or kayak at Playa de Alcaravaneras nearby. There are surf schools in the north and south of the island, as well as dive academies if you want to go deep, deep down.

Gran Canaria locals love their basketball and football, but they are also keen on some sports that predate the arrival of the Spanish. The likes of lucha canaria, Canarian wrestling, whose bouts draw a loyal following to the rings in municipalities up and down the island.

Fiesta fiesta, no time for siesta! Teror's Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Pino (Our Lady of the Pine), dates back to the 17th century, when the statue of Gran Canaria's patron saint was taken to the capital to pray for rain. Even older is Agaete's Fiesta de la Rama in August which sees partygoers thrashing the Atlantic with palm branches, just like the canarii before them did, again for rain.

Valle de Agaete, in northwest Gran Canaria, holds the unique distinction of being one of Europe's few coffee-growing regions. With a tradition dating back to the 18th century, this serene village nurtures Arabic coffee plants in the shade of the fragrant jasmine and mango trees. The coffee from Agaete has evolved into a gourmet product, cherished for its exceptional flavour.

The 11th of September sees locals, many dressed in traditional Canarian clothing, enter the lagoon above La Aldea de San Nicolás' main beach and try to catch fish with their bare hands. This celebration pays homage to the Canarian ancestral practice of embarbascada — a fishing technique that involves pouring sap from plants such as cardon or tabaiba to sedate the fish before catching it.

Bufadero La Garita, on Gran Canaria's eastern coast, is a natural spectacle where waves dramatically shoot through rock formations. This volcanic blowhole, adjacent to the dark sandy Playa de la Garita, creates a stunning display, with water spraying high into the air. Accompanied by the rhythmic 'heartbeat of the ocean', it's a mesmerising spot, especially at sunrise.

Cueva de Cuatro Puertas, a grand cave carved into volcanic tuff, is known for its four large entrances leading to a horizontal platform. Linked to the religious practices of the ancient Canarians, this archaeological site offers insights into their sacred and cultural world, as well as panoramic views.

Mirador del Balcón in La Aldea de San Nicolás is a serene stargazing spot, perched on 'Dragon's Tail' cliffs. Its stark beauty offers a gateway to celestial wonders, where constellations like Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia shine against the Atlantic.